Computing

Computing is taught in one of three purpose-built Computer Suites, each containing 30+ PCs. The school runs a Citrix Server system enabling students to use any computer to access their personal password protected user space. This also allows students to be able to access their work and programs from home if they have an internet connected PC or Mac. The Faculty Leader is Mr I Price to whom all queries regarding Computing at JMHS should be made.

KS4

Computing is studied at KS4 and KS5 following a general introduction to ICT in KS3. The computing course is a more technical insight into how computers work and how they are programmed. Initially Python is used to introduce students to the concept of programming and later Java script and Visual Basic are also covered.

The course followed at KS4 is the GCSE Computer Science course from OCR, graded 9-1. It consists of two exams and a practical programming project undertaken in a controlled environment.

EXAM 1 – COMPUTER SYSTEMS

This component will be a traditionally marked and structured question paper with a mix of question types: short-answer, longer-answer, and levels of response questions. It will cover the characteristics of contemporary systems architecture and other areas including the following:

The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices

Software and software development

Exchanging data

Data types, data structures and algorithms

Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues

EXAM 2 – ALGORITHMS AND PROGRAMMING

This component will be a traditionally marked and structured question paper with two sections, both of which will include a mix of question types: short-answer, longer-answer, and levels of response questions.

SECTION A

Traditional questions concerning computational thinking:

Elements of computational thinking

Programming and problem solving

Pattern recognition, abstraction and decomposition

Algorithm design and efficiency

Standard algorithms

SECTION B

There will be a scenario/task contained in the paper, which could be an algorithm or a text page-based task, which will involve problem solving.

PROGRAMMING PROJECT

Students select their own user-driven problem of an appropriate size and complexity to solve from a given list. This will enable them to demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the Assessment Objectives. Students will need to analyse the problem, design a solution, implement the solution and give a thorough evaluation.

KS5

At KS5 the OCR Computer Science A-Level develops the skills covered in the GCSE and takes them further. Although it is not essential to have studied GCSE Computer Science it will be of great benefit. The course consists of two exams and a practical programming project.

Computer Systems exam (Component 01)

This an exam with 40% weighting which covers the following items:

Types of processor

Input, output and storage

Systems Software

Applications Generation

Software Development

Types of Programming Language

Compression, Encryption and Hashing

Databases

Networks

Web Technologies

Data Types

Data Structures

Boolean Algebra

Computing related legislation

Moral and ethical Issues

Algorithms and Programming exam (Component 02)

This an exam with 40% weighting which covers the following items:

Thinking abstractly

Thinking ahead

Thinking procedurally

Thinking logically

Thinking concurrently

Programming techniques

Computational methods

Algorithms

The Programming Project (Component 03)

This a project with 20% weighting which covers the following items:

Problem identification

Stakeholders

Researching the problem

Specifying the proposed solution

Decomposing the problem

Describing the solution

Describing the approach to testing

Iterative development process

Testing to inform development

Testing to inform evaluation

Success of the solution

Describing the final product

Maintenance and development

Enrichment

Programming Club

Initially learning Python as an introduction language and later exploring the BBC Microbit and Raspberry Pi.

Robotics

Currently the department has access to 4 bipedal robots and is developing resources to launch a Robotic Control Club in the near future.

The Faculty Leader is Mr Iain Price, to whom all queries regarding Computing at JMHS should be made.